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Photograph of Parry Aftab, Executive Director of WiredSafetyParry Aftab
Parry Aftab, an Internet privacy and security lawyer, is WiredSafety's Executive Director. Parry is The Privacy Lawyer columnist for Information Week magazine.More...
Ask Parry! FAQ

What are the risks our children face online?

How can I teach my children about risks online if I have never used the Internet?

How can I tell if something is dangerous to my child or merely offensive?

I hear that the Internet is loaded with criminals. Is that true?

I think that the only way to keep your children safe is to keep them offline. Is that true?

O.K.ay, you convinced me. But I'm not a techie, and I can't even program my VCR. How can I supervise my children online?

I hear there are no laws in cyberspace. Is that true?

I'm afraid that my children will be kidnapped or molested by someone they meet online. How serious a risk is that?

How do I know when my child is ready to use the Internet?

How do I encourage my child to come to me with questions and when things go wrong online?

I taught my children about "Stranger Danger." But how does this work when you're supposed to talk with strangers online?

My children and teens want to chat online, but I hear it's dangerous. What should I do?

My kids don't chat online, but they use Instant Messaging all the time. Is that a problem?

I trust my child not to get into trouble. Is that a mistake?

Who's at risk? Is there a profile of a typical child victim of Internet-related sexual molestation?

How can you find out what information is posted online about your child?

Is there a profile of a typical predator?

My children know not to talk to strangers. I have been teaching them about stranger-danger for many years. I don't believe they would be lured into talking to a predator online. How does this happen?

What is the likelihood of my child meeting an online predator offline? Should I be worried?

My children attend a school that has a Web site They have posted the names and photos of the students at the site. Is that a problem?

What can I do to help my child avoid being a victim of an Internet sexual molester?

What about filtering and blocking software and parental controls? Do they keep your child safe?

What about technology…are there products to help you snoop on your child?

Should I snoop on my children?

Maybe I should just keep them from using the Internet entirely.

But what can I do if I don't understand computers or technology? My children know more than I do about the Internet.

So, what can I do to make my children more Internet-safety-savvy?

What do I do if I suspect my child is involved with an Internet sexual predator?

Whom do I contact to report an Internet sexual predator?

My child told me about their encounters online with someone I suspect is a sexual molester. I understand you want me to report it to law enforcement. But what do I do if I don't want to get law enforcement involved?

What do I do if my child is missing and I suspect that an Internet sexual molester is involved?

Which law enforcement agencies in the United States handle cybercrimes?

What kinds of things are teens really doing online?

I suspect that teens act out online. Is that true?

What's your favorite and most important safety tip?

Ask Parry!

Special reports

Ask Parry! Ask Parry! is a service where Parry Aftab, noted online safety and privacy expert, and Executive Director of WiredSafety.org can answer your questions about online safety, privacy and security, and help you with problems you encounter online. Anything from help finding a safe chat room for your teens, to knowing what to do if the item you bought at auction doesn't arrive as promised.

Whom do I contact to report an Internet sexual predator?

Report any attempts to lure your child into a face-to-face meeting to your local law-enforcement officials immediately. They will bring in other law enforcement agencies as needed. If you find that your local law enforcement agency isn't taking this seriously, you can contact your local country's tipline or hotline, or you can contact our Cyber911 Team and we will reach out to law enforcement with you.

Here are some of the places online you can report problems.

1-800-BE-ALERT (1-800-232-5378) is U.S. Customs' twenty-four- hour hotline, and it will route your complaint to the right law enforcement agency. (Many states are also setting up similar tip lines. You should contact your state attorney general to find out whom you should contact locally.)

One of the best tip lines in the world is the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline, a national tip line established by the U.S. Congress. The CyberTipline is accessible by telephone at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) as well as online at www.cybertipline.com. They get thousands of child-exploitation tips a year, and turn over more than 2,000 tips of child pornography, alone, to U.S. Customs quarterly.

Their Web site is www.missingkids.com. They were formed under special federal legislation, and the tips sent to them are officially shared with the FBI Innocent Images Unit and U.S. Customs' Cybersmuggling unit, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and, in many cases, local law enforcement.

Other tip lines worldwide have modeled themselves after the National Center's CyberTipline. And while they have some of the most devoted and talented professionals of any child-safety group, National Center wouldn't be National Center without Ernie Allen, a visionary when it comes to children's safety.

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Parts of this Web site were taken from Parry Aftab's book The Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Children in Cyberspace. Marvel and all character names and the distinctive likenesses thereof are trademarks of Marvel Characters, Inc., and are used with permission. TM & © 2004 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved. www.marvel.com. Super Heroes is a Co-owned registered Trademark.
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